Preparation of nanocellulose by hydrolysis with ionic liquids and two-step hydrolysis with ionic liquids and enzymes

The aim of this study was to compare parameters of nanocellulose obtained by two different procedures: hydrolysis with ionic liquids (1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate) and hydrolysis with ionic liquids in combination with hydrolysis using a cellulolytic enzyme from Trichoderma reesei. Avicel cellulose was treated with two ionic liquids: 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (AmimCl) and 1-ethyl 3-methylimidazolium acetate (EmimOAc). In the two-step hydrolysis cellulose after treatment with ionic liquids was additionally hydrolyzed with a solution of enzymes. In order to characterize the obtained material, the following analyses were used: infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and dynamic light scattering. The results indicated that cellulose obtained by two-step nanocellulose production methods (first hydrolysis with ionic liquids and then with enzymes) showed similar parameters (particle size, XRD patterns and degree of crystallinity) as the material after the one-step process, i.e. hydrolysis with ionic liquids.

The quality of the wood bonding depending on the method of applying the selected thermoplastic biopolymers

The quality of the wood bonding depending on the method of applying the selected thermoplastic biopolymers. The aim of the research was to determine the effect of the method of applying the biopolymer on the surface of bonding solid wood elements on the quality of the obtained adhesive connection. The results of conducted mechanical research show that the highest average value of shear strength was observed for birch lamellas bonded with PLA, both with the first and second method of application. In case of estimating the quality of the bonding of wooden elements, better results were achieved for PLA and the second method of application the "green" adhesive.

Classics of Polish Design. Furniture Icons from the Polish People's Republic (PRL)

Classics of Polish Design. Furniture Icons from the Polish People's Republic (PRL) presents a review of the best Polish furniture designs from the Polish People's Republic: the 1950s and 1960s. The paper continues the series devoted to the "Classical Polish Design", presenting the results of research on Polish post-war furniture and the icons of Polish design, carried out within the framework of dissertations in the Department of Wood Technology in the Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW). Some of the innovative furniture designs have been analysed in the hereby article. We present a chronologically organised review of designs that aspired to become breakthrough and timeless (design icons), with the author's background and the furniture's style, structure and materials.

ERP Systems Enhanced with RFID Technology in Furniture Industry

RFID technology is being widely used in most areas that are supported by ERP systems. With the help of RFID tags and readers placed at various locations throughout a furniture company, the presence of various objects in the factory can be monitored in real time. Readers receiving information from RFID tags can transmit it directly into the system and create databases or initiate business processes. The basic resources that can be tracked using RFID are human and machine resources as well as warehoused inventories, spare parts, tools, semi-finished and finished products. The only condition that must be met by the tracked object is that it can be tagged. The furniture industry is continuously growing. With factories expanding to tens of thousands of square metres and employing thousands of workers, knowledge of who or what is where at any given time is very important for optimising plant operations. Being able to gain this knowledge in real time is very useful and saves a lot of resources over the long term. Monitoring of resources in an ERP system using RFID technology is very popular nowadays. The improvement of the implemented solution leads to an ever increasing degree of control. However, it is important to maintain it at an optimal level, because otherwise it may unnecessarily disturb employees in their daily duties or generate more work for them without returning a measurable benefit.

Compression strength-focused properties of wood composites induced by structure

Compression strength-focused properties of wood composites induced by structure. The aim of the following study was to examine the contractual compression strength and modulus of elasticity when compressing (MOEC) of three different wood composites with various structure types: softwood (coniferous) plywood, OSB and laminated particleboard 24 mm thick. The biggest MOEC value was performed by the particleboard laminated 24 mm MOEC equalling 70.00 N/mm2. The second was found by the OSB panels, equalling 63.03 N/mm2. Last, but with MOEC value close to OSB, was softwood plywood with MOEC of 62.44 N/mm2. The lowest compression strength was observed by OSB samples, with a value of 2.75 N/mm2. The second lowest value has been performed by coniferous plywood (2.80 N/mm2). The highest compression strength occurred by the particleboard laminated 24 mm, equalling 3.31 N/mm2. Density shares and density profiles of the samples were also analysed, all of the examined composites performed U-shaped density profile The results of the study showed that there is no significant correlation between density and obtained parameters under compression. Observation of density share let the Authors conclude conversely than the results showed. It is supposed that the key factor affecting the compression performance of samples was the adhesive area and solid glue content within the composites. It is assumed that the bigger total contact surface of wood particles coated with adhesive resin, so the sum of the effective (gluing particles) surfaces of the adhesive joint is the better mechanical properties can be performed. This is why the laminated particleboard gave the best mechanical properties, while the worst were observed by the softwood plywood.

Color changes of ash wood (Fraxinus excelsior L.) caused by thermal modification in air and steam

Color changes of ash wood (Fraxinus excelsior L.) caused by thermal modification in air and steam. Ash wood samples of 20x20x30 mm were subjected to thermal modification in different conditions. The thermal modification was conducted in air at 190 °C and in steam at 160 °C. For both environments modification lasted 2, 6 and 10 hours. Samples color parameters were measured before and after thermal modification on the basis of the mathematical CIELab color space model. Changes in all parameters (L, a and b) were observed, the highest in lightness (L) - darker color. The total color difference (ΔE) and chromaticity change (ΔC) were calculated for all samples. The highest value of ΔE was obtained for wood modified in the air at 190 °C for 10 h. The highest value of ΔC was obtained for wood modified in steam at 160 °C for 10 h. However, the value obtained for wood modified in the air at 190 °C for 10 h were only slightly lower.

Investigation of selected properties of the black elder wood (Sambucus nigra L.)

Investigation of selected properties of the black elder wood (Sambucus nigra L.). The work has defined the selected chemical, physical and mechanical properties of the black elder wood, such as content of non-structural substances, shrinkage and density, speed of sound propagation, dynamic modulus of elasticity, acoustic resistance and sound attenuation, modulus of elasticity, bending strength, compressive strength, Brinell hardness, cold and hot-water extractives content and pH of hot-water extract. The black elder wood is hard and moderately shrinking. Mechanical properties are reduced by going from the pith to the perimeter, which is most likely affected by the increasing twist of the fibres. The distance from the pith also affects the acoustic properties and the size of the shrinkage, while the density remains constant.

The effect of the use of a soil improver based on waste brown coal on the enzymatic activity of soil in the cultivation of Paulownia hybrids (Paulownia Siebold & Zuccarini, 1835)

The effect of the use of a soil improver based on waste brown coal on the enzymatic activity of soil in the cultivation of Paulownia hybrids (Paulownia Siebold & Zuccarini, 1835). An important element in controlling the condition of the soil and the plants grown on it are tests of the enzymatic activity of the soil matrix. One of the greatest advantages of using enzyme tests is the ability to make an assessment that also includes other non-measurable factors that affect soil health and condition. The diagnosed changes in soil enzymatic activity are the best parameter for determining the biochemical processes taking place there. This article describes the enzymatic activity of lessive soils on which the Paulownia hybrid variety is cultivated and a soil improver based on waste brown coal is used

Temperature distribution in beech wood during vacuum drying

Temperature distribution in beech wood during vacuum drying. The temperature distribution and changes in humidity in beech wood in the form of friezes during drying in a vacuum were analysed. The intensity of the occurring phenomena of desorption and the volumetric flow of moisture through the anatomical structures of the wood, depending on the absolute pressure and the temperature of the process, was determined. It was found that the fastest temperature increase took place in the subsurface layers directly adjacent to the heating plates. The introduction of conditioning between the drying phases made it possible to even out the humidity and temperature distribution in the entire element. On the basis of the analysis of changes taking place between the volumes of the three components of wood, it was found that the volume of moisture in the form of vapor removed in the initial phase of drying is over 20 times greater than the volume of voids in wood structures, and in the following phases it decreases to 0.27. The average volume of vapour removed from 1 m3 of wood at the temperature of 55℃ is 13.9 m3/h, decreasing in the following phases to 9.1 m3/h at the drying temperature of 60℃ and then 3.1 m3/h at the temperature of 65℃. The drying rates for these phases reach the value of 0.15%/h, 0.17%/h and 0.075%/h, respectively. Direct measurements of wood moisture, made during the experimental course of the drying process at an absolute pressure of 150 hPa, follow the equivalent moisture, determined on the basis of the Hailwood-Horrobin model, taking into account the appropriate calculation factors.

Influence of environment, temperature and time of the thermal modification of ash wood (Fraxinus excelsior L.) on the cellulose weight average degree of polymerization

Influence of environment, temperature and time of the thermal modification of ash wood (Fraxinus excelsior L.) on the cellulose weight average degree of polymerization . Using the size-exclusion chromatography (HPLC SEC) method, the weight average degree of cellulose polymerization was determined. The polymer was isolated by the Kürschner-Hoffer method from ash wood (Fraxinus excelsior L.). The wood was thermally modified in different environments (nitrogen, steam and air) at 190°C and modification times of 2, 6 and 10 hours. Depending on the anaerobic atmosphere used, the highest values of the weight average degree of cellulose polymerization were obtained for the nitrogen environment, followed by steam and air. The effect of modification time on the weight average degree of polymerization was observed. The highest values were obtained for wood modified at 2 hours, then 6 and 10 hours of modification. The native wood showed the highest degree of polymerization. On the basis of the results obtained, it can be concluded that for the material studied the oxidation and degradation reactions occurring depend on the environment and time for a given temperature of wood modification.